Was Charles I’s choice of advisors the main reason for the political instability that existed in the years 1924-46?

Aleesha HussainBritish HistoryWas Charles I's choice of advisors the main reason for the political instability that existed in the years1924-46?Of all the causes of political instability in the years 1924-46 most seem to stem from Charles I choicesof advisors: Buckingham was a cause for Parliamentary concern, Laud for religious tension andWentworth's eventual execution led to deep distrust between Parliament and Charles.That Charles was a King who was at least partly to blame for his execution is undisputed howevermany of Charles' initial problems were inherited; his father, James I, had already somewhat degradedthe image of the monarchy with his antics and the manner in which he ran his royal court. Howeverthe largest problems Charles inherited was the Duke of Buckingham.Along with Buckingham came a string of military disasters, including the Mansfield expedition, and thenaval expedition to Cadiz. Buckingham lacked an attention to detail as well as carefully planned outexpeditions, his position was completely owed to nepotism, and whilst nepotism was forgivable,Buckingham's constant foreign policy failures were not and caused much friction with Parliament,whom Charles already resented for placing limits on his power. One of his Charles first acts was todissolve parliament in 1625, and again in 1626 after attempts to impeach the Duke of Buckinghamover war against Spain. Buckingham was one of the biggest causes of friction between Parliament andCharles.Buckingham's poor diplomacy also led to other issues namely war and religion. In 1623, Buckinghamattempted to negotiate a marriage of Charles with the Spanish Infanta Maria however his behaviourwas such that he returned with a call for war with Spain. He later negotiated the betrothal to HenriettaMaria of France, with the promise that she would be permitted to practice her religion in England.Buckingham had already stirred up religious tensions between Puritans and Armenians at York houseand had failed to support Protestants at La Rochelle where he was in personal command. Many nowconsidered the Royal Court to be secretly Catholic and this bred distrust.However, Buckingham was assassinated early in Charles reign, and so most of the kingdom's religiousissues fall on another of Charles advisors: Laud. Religious tensions between Armenians and Puritanshad already been present during James I's reign, but this was exemplified by Charles promoting ofArmenian Clergy. This, along with the traditionally Catholic practices now made mandatory in allchurches, led to much backlash from the public. Laud, dealt with this quickly, going so far as to bothorganise executions and run Puritans out of England. However, when Laud and Earl Strafford, anotheradvisor in Ireland, extended their programmed of reform to Scotland, attempting to introduce theEnglish Book of Common Prayer, a war was waged in Ireland and Scotland separately. The two advisorsprevented a united kingdom and led to the Charles and his court being widely disliked.There are other factors at play and whilst the King and his advisors are partly to blame some must alsolie on the shoulders of Parliament. Parliament had instantly distrusted Charles, he had promised tofight against the French only for his soldiers to arrive there and be given the command to defendthem. Such a flighty King must be controlled and so only granted poundage and tonnage for a year sothat Parliament would have to be called on a regular basis. Furthermore, they only granted a quarterof what was needed to wage an effective war, and were very critical, perhaps rightly so, of hisadvisors, all this led to political tension between Parliament and Charles, who resented their attemptsto prevent his absolute rule. Eventually, his anger was too much, and he dissolved parliament in 1625,and again in 1626, only calling upon them when he desperately needed money. When they wererecalled they refused to grant Charles any money until their grievances were heard, releasing the tenpropositions, and then 19 propositions gradually increasing that would turn Charles to `a mere

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Aleesha HussainBritish Historyphantom of a King.' Parliament's attempt to disrupt Charles Divine Right to rule was the main reasonfor political conflict between the King and themselves.Charles ruled mainly through his advisors and their mistakes are outlined above, personally the largestcause for political cause was derived from his decision to rule without Parliament for eleven years.…read more